Fujitsu Semiconductor pick up ARM chips: Cortex A15, Mali GPUs, more

Fujitsu Semiconductor has become the latest company to sign up to ARM‘s Cortex A15 cores, following Texas Instruments and others in creating the next-generation of SoCs. Although exact products haven’t been confirmed yet, the deal will give Fujitsu access not only to ARM’s processors but to GPUs like Mali.

It’s not the first time the two companies have worked together, though the new agreement could see more high-power chipsets from Fujitsu Semiconductor. It’s likely that the company will supply its own Fujitsu smartphone arm, though the processors could also end up in tablets and other hardware.

Press Release:

Fujitsu Semiconductor and ARM Sign Comprehensive License Agreement

A strategic partnership using cutting-edge IP such as Cortex™-A15 and Mali graphics to expand global business

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom & YOKOHAMA, Japan–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited and ARM today announced that they have signed a comprehensive license agreement for ARM IP products. Through this strategic agreement, Fujitsu Semiconductor will offer platforms featuring the latest ARM technology including the Cortex™-A15 processor, Mali™ graphics and CoreLink™ systems IP, in order to help accelerate its customers’ product development.

“The combination of ARM’s advanced processor, system and graphics technology and Fujitsu’s leadership in advanced SoC development forms a solid foundation for the development of pioneering semiconductor products.”
The two companies have been collaborating for more than a decade. More recently, Fujitsu Semiconductor launched sales of its FM3 family of general-purpose microcomputers equipped with the Cortex-M3 processor last November.

The agreement will enhance and deepen the companies’ partnership, and Fujitsu Semiconductor will provide its customers with cutting-edge ARM technology at an early stage as it develops new products in order to accelerate its customers’ product development.

“Fujitsu Semiconductor is working to enhance its product appeal and boost its IP lineup,” said Corporate Senior Vice President Haruyoshi Yagi of Fujitsu Semiconductor. “One of the major ways in which we are doing this is with this comprehensive license agreement we have signed with ARM. This will allow our customers to select the ARM technology most suited for their application, and use a platform that combines it with other IP provided by us. These platforms will use our proven design and authentication technology, meaning we will be able to achieve high levels of quality and functionality, as well as a dramatic reduction in LSI development time.

“Fujitsu Semiconductor provides products that meet its customers’ needs in a timely manner over a wide range of applications. We are already moving ahead with the provision of IP to ASIC customers and the development of our ASSP, which are scheduled to be rolled out sequentially in the second half of 2011.

“In addition, we will share the Fujitsu Semiconductor product roadmap with ARM, and closely collaborate in the development of future ARM technologies, from the specification setting stage and up. As a strategic partner, we look forward to an even closer relationship with ARM.”

“In a constantly evolving marketplace, ARM is committed to empowering its Partners with the resources they need to not only remain competitive today, but to meet future technology challenges head-on,” said Tudor Brown, president, ARM. “The combination of ARM’s advanced processor, system and graphics technology and Fujitsu’s leadership in advanced SoC development forms a solid foundation for the development of pioneering semiconductor products.”